Oman Doubles Business Opportunities With Yemen

The businessmen from Oman and Yemen discussed exchange of trade between two neighbouring countries and sought to remove the roadblocks in trade and commerce to reap maximum benefits of the available resources and create a win-win situation for both the countries. A high level business delegation from Yemen arrived in Salalah to take part in Sunday’s deliberations titled ‘Omani-Yemeni Forum to facilitate investment’. Major business stakeholders from Oman took part in the forum and expressed willingness to join hands with their Yemeni counterparts.

Hosted by the Dhofar chapter of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industries (OCCI) the meeting proceeded under the auspices of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan bin Hamoud al Busaidy, Minister of State and Governor of Dhofar. Present on the occasion were representatives from business houses, government establishments like Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), Al Rafd Fund, Salalah Free Zone and Port of Salalah. In his comments to Observer Al Busaidy congratulated both Omani and Yemeni business stakeholders and said: “We welcome our Yemeni brothers to do business in Oman, either in Salalah or any other location of their choice. This is beneficial for them and us as well. We are trying to make things easier for them to invest in Oman.”

Abdullah bin Salim Mahad al Rawas, Head of Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) in Dhofar Governorate, welcomed the Yemeni trade delegation and exhorted them to invest in Oman and get maximum benefit from the strategic geographical location of both the countries.

“We are willing to achieve a breakthrough of productivity in all sectors through optimum utilisation of our unique geographical location and work to encourage domestic and foreign investment for productive projects of public interest that provide more job opportunities for citizens and give a boost to the national economy.”

From Yemeni side Arif Awadh al Zabidi, Chairman of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Wadi Hadhramaut, said that the Yemeni businessmen were expecting good business cooperation between Oman and Yemen, “as we are more than neighbours, we have many things in common, we know each other and in the given situation in Yemen we are looking for investment opportunities. Oman suits us the best.”

Commenting on the most feasible area of business, Arif said in today’s situation it was shipping and transportation of goods to and from Yemen which is the most sought after. “We have our compulsions and we are looking to Oman for cooperation,” he said.

Yemeni businessman Hussein Alzubairi, Managing Director of Dairy Kingdom DMCC, is hopeful of some good outcome of the forum meeting that is going on now and coming in near future. “Oman has a lot to offer- to Yemen. Yemenis are looking for 100 per cent ownership and the free zones like Mazyona, Duqm and Salalah are opening up in a big way. This is opportunity to us and to Oman as well,” he said.

Businessmen from both the sides called for easing some visa restrictions to let the trade grow and businesses prosper. Awadh bin Salim al Shanfari, CEO of Salalah Free Zone, claimed to have a wide range of facilities for the investors as 100 per cent ownership, customs benefits both on export and import and one-stop-shop to clear all business requirements. “There are physical facilities like warehouses cold storage facilities, bare land etc. We have industrial, commercial and tourism avenues for the investors. As of now Salalah free Zone has $4bn of investment and there are many in the pipeline,” he said and added that for Yemenis we have special offers and we are willing to join hands with them to facilitate investment and further business relations.